Francis W. Gilmer to Dabney Carr
| Dear Judge. | Richmond 15. April [May] 1823. |
I returned from Albemarle on the 11th and found your letter of 27th april waiting me. I deplored sincerely, that your visit to Albemarle was not in May instead of June—You cannot I fear prolong (not defer) it, ’till the last of July.
You are right, take Mrs Carr to the White Sulphur; even on the score of economy you are right—Then these waters are worth all the medicinal springs in America. They search the liver, pervade the whole system, string anew the nerves, renovate the strength, purify the skin—so that one sloughs as it were, by their use. Beware however of continuing them too long. They are too powerful—for more than a fortnights use, after they have full play. Then Sir, should they fail in any iota, you have near at hand, the warm spring bath—another Medea’s kettle, in which a short boiling will “renovate you in your new organs, with the fresh vigour of a juvenile activity,” and I expect to hear of your taking in fair chase, a mountain hind at least, perchance an eagle.
Mr Jefferson look’d very well—tho’ his hurt wrist incommodes him exceedingly. I was deeply concerned to find the health both of my uncle & aunt at Farmington, so bad. That of the former improved very much while I was with them. I wish I could have staid longer, for I assure you even the little kindness and notice which my aunt bestowed on me in my forlorn childhood, sunk deep into my heart, and the stream rises to its fountain, whenever sickness or sorrow reach her. How little do people generally know that the attentions of affection, are never thrown away on children; they have a thousand times the sensibility, & at least as much penetration in finding out their friends, as grown people. The sentiments with which I remember every act of civility even, shewn me when a boy, have made me a decided champion & friend of children. You have a better reason still for delighting in them—and I hope you will live to see Dabney praxed up on a greater eminence, than the forelock of Smith, the mast of any ammiral, or even than the skiey top of blue Olympus.
Do you not intend to be at our Special court in June? Come—I argue none of the cases, nor are they of much moment I believe, but you should not forswear the metropolis.
Wherever you go—may all your ways, be ways of pleasantness, & all your paths &c.
P.S. Should you see a certain obscure attorney in your place, who I believe was never heard of out of his profession, or if so, only once or twice, whose name I do not well remember, but Teucer or Tuker, or perhaps Henry St G. Tucker, tell him, he is the uncivilest man I have heard of—to take precisely the time to visit Richmond that I was absent—for being desirous to patronise youthful merit, I should have been glad to see the young man—
How is our excellent Holmes—remember me kindly to him—